If you are that way inclined, stick a copy of Erskine May, the Parliamentary procedure bible, on your Christmas list - if it's not too late.

Because this week, and likely in the early weeks of next year, you might need it.

A pattern is becoming more and more distinct that shows the many rival factions in Parliament sweating to find the latest, the most cunning, the most expeditious procedure to try to get their way - whether that's the opposition, or disgruntled Tories, both in different ways making life tricky for the government.

We've just witnessed another case in point. Jeremy Corbyn was, we were told, going to lodge an attempt to force a no confidence vote, simply in the prime minister, in fury that she had delayed Parliament having a say on her Brexit agreement.

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That's not, as you understand, the scary sounding no-confidence motion of old that could collapse a government.

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Some cabinet ministers are openly discussing a change of approach to Brexit

Politics has been weird for some time, in fact a long time.

There are many reasons, but the two that always come to the front of my mind are the same. Brexit doesn't divide neatly down party lines so Parliament, where decisions are made, doesn't behave like it normally does. Mixing Parliament and Brexit is like trying to mix milk and water; you get a cloudy, unappetising mess.

Yes, the prime minister was given a promise from the EU that they will do a trade deal after Brexit as quickly as they possibly can so, in theory, the controversial backstop will never be required.

In political practice, right now, there is no way that alone will calm the fever that has taken hold of so many of the prime minister's MPs - more than a hundred of whom wanted her to quit this week - swathes of whom would never vote for her Brexit compromise as things stand.

About Laura

Laura is the BBC's political editor. Until July she was Newsnight's chief correspondent and a regular presenter of the programme after a spell as ITV News business editor, and many years reporting on politics for a wide range of BBC News programmes. Based again at Westminster she now has a particular responsibility for political coverage on the BBC's flagship news programmes, including Today on Radio 4 and the Six and Ten O'Clock News on BBC One.

Laura has lived and worked in France and in the United States. Before joining the BBC in 2000, Laura worked in local radio and TV and studied at Edinburgh and Georgetown universities.

She is a proud Glaswegian, but lives happily in East London. She loves Twitter.